Amish People

You might assume that Amish people, with their horse-drawn buggies, are poor or unsophisticated with money. Not true. In fact, many have weathered the recession far better than most other Americans, experts say. "They seem to be aware there was a recession, but it wasn't really changing their lives," said Lorilee Craker, author of the new book "Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving. " "They have so much money in the bank, it's...

CLEVELAND, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A federal jury on Thursday convicted Ohio Amish sect leader Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers on federal hate crimes charges in connection with several beard-cutting attacks on Amish people that shocked the state last fall. Mullet and his followers were found guilty on conspiracy to commit hate crimes charges for attacks on nine Amish men and women. Each defendant faced other charges for their ...

In this Old Order Amish community, there was too much sadness on Friday. But as for angry words or a sign of outrage, there was none directed toward Eric Bache. Bache, 18, is the driver who authorities say caused the worst fatal accident ever in Salt Creek Township or Fredericksburg, population 500. A quarter-mile east of the accident site, a strong middle-aged woman stood in a yard talking softly. Close by, several men listened. "God doesn't make...

CLEVELAND, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Jurors have reached a verdict in the federal hate crimes trial of Ohio Amish sect leader Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers in connection with beard-cutting attacks on other Amish people last fall, a court administrator said Thursday. Mullet and his 15 followers face federal conspiracy and hate crimes charges for attacks on nine Amish men and women. Mullet also faces charges of destroying or concealing evidence and ...

CLEVELAND, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Jurors have reached a verdict in the federal hate crimes trial of Ohio Amish sect leader Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers in connection with beard-cutting attacks on other Amish people last fall, a court administrator said Thursday. Mullet and his 15 followers face federal conspiracy and hate crimes charges for attacks on nine Amish men and women. Mullet also faces charges of destroying or concealing evidence and ...

By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND, Sept 12 (Reuters) - An Ohio Amish sect leader charged with federal hate crimes played a central role at beard-cutting attacks by his followers that "religiously degraded" other Amish people, even though he was not present during the attacks, prosecutors said Wednesday. Jurors will begin deliberating on Thursday whether Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers are guilty of federal hate crimes for the attacks on nine...

CLEVELAND, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A federal jury on Thursday convicted Ohio Amish sect leader Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers on federal hate crimes charges in connection with several beard-cutting attacks on Amish people that shocked the state last fall. Mullet and his followers were found guilty on conspiracy to commit hate crimes charges for attacks on nine Amish men and women. Each defendant faced other charges for their ...

You might assume that Amish people, with their horse-drawn buggies, are poor or unsophisticated with money. Not true. In fact, many have weathered the recession far better than most other Americans, experts say. "They seem to be aware there was a recession, but it wasn't really changing their lives," said Lorilee Craker, author of the new book "Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving. " "They have so much money in the bank, it's...

For those who dream of owning a Louis XIII chair or a Frank Lloyd Wright sofa, but can't afford the price, the Amish Furniture Shoppe in Matteson can make the dream a reality, or at least a reasonable facsimile. "If you bring in a picture of the furniture, we can have a replica built," said Gloria Walton, who operates the 9-year-old business with her husband, James. The Amish Furniture Shoppe offers handmade sofas, maple dining room tables, cherry clocks, oak armoires, cedar chests, wooden fruit soaked in...

In these peak days of the travel-happy summer, an angst-ridden visit to the local gas station might tempt one to head down to H. Paul Schrock's gravel lot and pick up an alternative vehicle bargain. Don't do it, unless you can supply horsepower -- the four-legged variety. Under the green and white striped tent along a gentle curve of Illinois Highway 133, Schrock sells used buggies, used Amish buggies, in a town that might not be in the middle of nowhere, but surely is around the corner...

The signs are visible long before the winding two-lane roads reach the busy town of Intercourse, Pa., tucked between freshly tilled farmland smelling faintly of manure. Quilts for sale. Quilts casually draped across old wooden chairs. Quilts hanging on clotheslines, tossed by breezes. New quilts in pastels and prints, the needlework of Lancaster County's Amish and Mennonite women. Amid the jumble of shops on Main Street, where crowds spilling from cars eagerly search for bargains and bathrooms, there is...

My wife and I are Conservative Friends, choosing a long-standing tradition within Christianity that values a "plain and simple" life. Our family manages to exist without a media diet of television or radio; we light our quiet evenings with oil lamps and do our nearby traveling by horse power. An outsider might lump us together with our Amish neighbors, but unlike the Amish, we stayed in school beyond the 8th grade and have college degrees. Along with farming, I do some...

By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND, Sept 12 (Reuters) - An Ohio Amish sect leader charged with federal hate crimes played a central role at beard-cutting attacks by his followers that "religiously degraded" other Amish people, even though he was not present during the attacks, prosecutors said Wednesday. Jurors will begin deliberating on Thursday whether Samuel Mullet Sr. and 15 of his followers are guilty of federal hate crimes for the attacks on nine...

In this Old Order Amish community, there was too much sadness on Friday. But as for angry words or a sign of outrage, there was none directed toward Eric Bache. Bache, 18, is the driver who authorities say caused the worst fatal accident ever in Salt Creek Township or Fredericksburg, population 500. A quarter-mile east of the accident site, a strong middle-aged woman stood in a yard talking softly. Close by, several men listened. "God doesn't make...

The snappy smell of raw wood greets visitors inside the circa 1826 Geneva store that houses Grains & Stains. Terry Neill started his unfinished furniture business five years ago as a fluke while on a detour through Indiana, where he discovered Amish craftsmen and their furniture. Now he carries the work of more than 20 different Amish and Mennonite wood workers from Indiana and west Pennsylvania. The artisans prefer to work only in hardwoods, such as maple, oak,...

For those who dream of owning a Louis XIII chair or a Frank Lloyd Wright sofa, but can't afford the price, the Amish Furniture Shoppe in Matteson can make the dream a reality, or at least a reasonable facsimile. "If you bring in a picture of the furniture, we can have a replica built," said Gloria Walton, who operates the 9-year-old business with her husband, James. The Amish Furniture Shoppe offers handmade sofas, maple dining room tables, cherry clocks, oak armoires, cedar chests, wooden fruit soaked in...

My wife and I are Conservative Friends, choosing a long-standing tradition within Christianity that values a "plain and simple" life. Our family manages to exist without a media diet of television or radio; we light our quiet evenings with oil lamps and do our nearby traveling by horse power. An outsider might lump us together with our Amish neighbors, but unlike the Amish, we stayed in school beyond the 8th grade and have college degrees. Along with farming, I do some...

The snappy smell of raw wood greets visitors inside the circa 1826 Geneva store that houses Grains & Stains. Terry Neill started his unfinished furniture business five years ago as a fluke while on a detour through Indiana, where he discovered Amish craftsmen and their furniture. Now he carries the work of more than 20 different Amish and Mennonite wood workers from Indiana and west Pennsylvania. The artisans prefer to work only in hardwoods, such as maple, oak,...

In these peak days of the travel-happy summer, an angst-ridden visit to the local gas station might tempt one to head down to H. Paul Schrock's gravel lot and pick up an alternative vehicle bargain. Don't do it, unless you can supply horsepower -- the four-legged variety. Under the green and white striped tent along a gentle curve of Illinois Highway 133, Schrock sells used buggies, used Amish buggies, in a town that might not be in the middle of nowhere, but surely is around the corner...

The signs are visible long before the winding two-lane roads reach the busy town of Intercourse, Pa., tucked between freshly tilled farmland smelling faintly of manure. Quilts for sale. Quilts casually draped across old wooden chairs. Quilts hanging on clotheslines, tossed by breezes. New quilts in pastels and prints, the needlework of Lancaster County's Amish and Mennonite women. Amid the jumble of shops on Main Street, where crowds spilling from cars eagerly search for bargains and bathrooms, there is...